'verb-like' originates from the English word 'verb' combined with the suffix '-like', where 'verb' refers to a word that describes an action, state, or occurrence, and '-like' means 'resembling or characteristic of'.

'verb' changed from the Latin word 'verbum', meaning 'word', and '-like' is a common English suffix used to form adjectives indicating similarity.

Initially, 'verb-like' meant 'resembling a verb in function or form', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.